Jussie Smollet - Horrible Hate Crime or Horrible Case of TDS?

[ronburgundy]

This case is likely not over. This prosecutor will likely be investigated for corruption.

The prosecutor has a personal relationship with Smollett's family and the police had already filed a complaint with the US DA about her efforts to tamper with their investigation.

By the prosecutor's own admission, there was nothing wrong with basis for the initial charges or the evidence supporting his guilt. Rather she chose to drop the charges b/c Smollet gave money and supposed "public service", and b/c she doesn't think his crimes are important enough to prosecute.

 

[Angry Floof]

Maybe they just figured he's not right in the head and his crimes were non-violent.

 

[just_me]

I just heard that the police union and Rom Emanuel is asking the feds to look into the state prosecutor.

 

[dismal]

This case is likely not over. This prosecutor will likely be investigated for corruption.

The prosecutor has a personal relationship with Smollett's family and the police had already filed a complaint with the US DA about her efforts to tamper with their investigation.

By the prosecutor's own admission, there was nothing wrong with basis for the initial charges or the evidence supporting his guilt. Rather she chose to drop the charges b/c Smollet gave money and supposed "public service", and b/c she doesn't think his crimes are important enough to prosecute.

The States Attorney recused herself from the case once Smollet became a suspect because she had had contact with his family. This was the supposed decision of the deputy, some guy named Joe Magats.

I guess we will see from Mr. Magats’ near term career trajectory whether he is someone’s loyal soldier or whether he is someone who made an innocent mistake because he lacks the judgement not to piss off the police, the mayor, and all the people who find Smollett’s acts very wrong and very serious.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Maybe they just figured he's not right in the head and his crimes were non-violent.

Fraud is still a crime. I get that jails should be reserved for poor people and rich person offences are better dealt with by a stern talking to since it’s somewhat gauche to have the wealthy face consequences for their actions, but it’s still a serious offence he committed.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

... rich person ... the wealthy....

Don't forget the patriarchy. These rich males just get away with everything.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Going through private police evidence is illegal. I not only haven't done that, I also haven't gone through private defense evidence and have no idea what they have.
At least I admit I can speculate. So, maybe these guys did it because they didn't like him or as a bad prank. While I think he's probably guilty, I can't say it beyond a reasonable doubt. And people have been more likely guilty, like police and George Zimmerman, that you've excused. Black guy suspects have not been proven guilty and you've called them guilty but you always say you apply equal standards across the board. You are not doing it now and should be called on it. If you don't like it, it's not my fault. Would you like me to quote you?

Didn't you come in here like 10 posts ago with an "I can't believe you're still talking about this" schtick?

If you don't care so much, why are you still here talking about this?

Since you guys are crying about it for so long, I have to say something, even to point out the absurd hypocrisy.

 

[repoman]

I am not a fan of stacking

charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge

yes that is 16 charges

for one discrete criminal offense. Try the defendant on the totality of what he did and be done with it.

Prosecutors can fuck off with this nickel and diming with overcharging.

 

[Derec]

This case is likely not over. This prosecutor will likely be investigated for corruption.

The prosecutor has a personal relationship with Smollett's family and the police had already filed a complaint with the US DA about her efforts to tamper with their investigation.

By the prosecutor's own admission, there was nothing wrong with basis for the initial charges or the evidence supporting his guilt. Rather she chose to drop the charges b/c Smollet gave money and supposed "public service", and b/c she doesn't think his crimes are important enough to prosecute.

Could Illinois AG overrule the county state attorney's office and prosecute anyway?

 

[repoman]

I am not a fan of stacking

charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge

yes that is 16 charges

for one discrete criminal offense. Try the defendant on the totality of what he did and be done with it. Don't use overcharging as a method to coerce the defendant to relent.

Prosecutors can fuck off with this nickel and diming with overcharging.

My uninformed opinion say give Smollett is guilty as hell and should serve something between 6 months and 2 years of actual time in a prison and $50,000-$100,000 fine. If this was a poorer person maybe a $5,000-$10,000 fine or community service rated at about $20/hr.

 

[Derec]

Since you guys are crying about it for so long,

Well, you progressives have been crying about the acquittal in the Trayvon Martin case for 6 years.

 

[Derec]

Going through private police evidence is illegal.

Sigh. From the context, it is obvious I meant publicly available evidence.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

I am not a fan of stacking

charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge after charge

yes that is 16 charges

for one discrete criminal offense. Try the defendant on the totality of what he did and be done with it.

Prosecutors can fuck off with this nickel and diming with overcharging.

That's true but also as a rich guy he had connections and a good lawyer.

 

[Angry Floof]

Maybe they just figured he's not right in the head and his crimes were non-violent.

Fraud is still a crime. I get that jails should be reserved for poor people and rich person offences are better dealt with by a stern talking to since it’s somewhat gauche to have the wealthy face consequences for their actions, but it’s still a serious offence he committed.

Yeah, that's totally what I meant.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Wait, is repoman a fan of stacking? I can’t tell.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Why do I get the feeling he knows where a body (probably a figurative one) is buried?

 

[repoman]

Wait, is repoman a fan of stacking? I can’t tell.

No, have much less charges per criminal event, but try them all with a trial. Leverage of tons of charges to get a plea deal is lame.

This Smollett hoax should be about three charges max. I would prefer only one charge, but take it all the way to the completion of a trial. In fact pleading guilty to avoid a trial in an ideal world would also be disallowed.

The gamesmanship of this legal system is disgusting.

 

[Derec]

After all, it's not like he's a multibillionaire owner of an NFL franchise trying to make a minor prostitution misdemeanor go away.

Comparing the two cases is actually revealing.

Jussie Smollett	Robert Kraft
charges mysteriously dropped	charges vigorously pursued
16 felonies	minor misdemeanor
hate crime fraud should be a crime	sex work should be legal
no constitutional issues	4th amendment issues with clandestinely recording an alleged sexual act right to privacy issues (Griswold, Roe, Lawrence) with anti-sex work legislation in general

 

[Derec]

And Cook County prosecution and law enforcement's notorious history of covering up their own misdeeds is very well documented.

Maybe historically. But Kim Foxx was specifically elected on the wave of anti-police #BLM fervor. She primaried the Democratic incumbent whom the #BLMers thought was too friendly with the police even as she charged Van Dyke with first degree murder.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

One idea came to me... maybe Jussie Smollet knows a Masonic incantation that got him off the charges. Honestly, of all the possibilities, this one makes the 'most' sense.